Measures of Adiposity and Risk of Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the UK Biobank Study

Effects of dietary intake behavior, food supply, nutrition, and health during the COVID-19 outbreak

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which began in 2019, has far-reaching ramifications, including economic losses and health challenges that still affect various parts of the world. During our review, we learned that the entire world is working to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. We explore ways that may lower the danger of SARS-CoV-2 contamination and useful strategies to avoid the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 spreading through food. While hygienic protocols are required in the food supply sector, cleaning, disinfection, and the avoidance of cross-contamination across food categories and other related goods at different stages of the manufacturing process remain especially important because the virus can survive for long periods of time on inert materials such as food packaging. Furthermore, personal hygiene (regular washing and disinfection), wearing gloves and using masks, garments, and footwear dedicated to maintaining hygiene provide on-site safety for food sector personnel, supply chain intermediaries, and consumers. Restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic (e.g., closure of physical workplaces, canteens, cafes, restaurants, schools, and childcare institutions), changes in household grocery shopping frequency, individuals' perceived risk of COVID-19, income losses due to the pandemic, and sociodemographic factors are among the factors. The conclusions drawn from this study consider the implications of healthy diets, food system resilience, behavior change, and nutritional imbalance for policymakers and food supply chain participants, as well as the antimicrobial effects of vitamins and nutrients. During a public health crisis, people should eat less, necessitating preventive policies and nutritional advice to deal with this.

Noncommunicable diseases risk factors and the risk of COVID-19 among university employees in Indonesia

Introduction

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are still a major public health problem in Indonesia. Studies have shown that risk factors of NCDs are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and mortality. However, it is unclear whether NCD risk factors are also risks for new COVID-19 cases. This study aimed to obtain an NCD risk profile among university employees and its associations with contracting COVID-19.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2021. Participants were administrative employees of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Depok City, West Java. Assessment of NCD risk factors was based on the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (WHO STEPS). Demographic, working, and medical-history data were obtained electronically by using a Google Form. Physical and laboratory examinations were done in the Integrated Post for NCDs. Risks were expressed as adjusted odds ratio (OR_adj) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in multivariate analyses.

Results

A total of 613 employees were enrolled. Men were predominant (54.8%), and about 36% of them work in shift as security personnel. About 66.7% were overweight or obese and 77.8% had hypertension. There were 138 (22.8%) employees who had COVID-19. Nearly all (95.6%) had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. At-risk waist circumference (OR_adj 1.72, 95% CI 1.15–2.56, p = 0.008) and total cholesterol level of 200–239 mg/dL (OR_adj 2.30, 95% CI 1.19–4.44, p = 0.013) were independent risk factors, but shift work (OR_adj 0.52, 95% CI 0.34–0.80, p = 0.003) was protective against COVID-19.

Conclusion

The prevalence of NCD risk factors among university administrative employees was high, increasing the risk of contracting COVID-19. A behavioral intervention program to manage NCD risk factors at the university level is urgently needed according to the Health Promoting University framework.

The "identikit" of subject with obesity and COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough

The mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were highly effective in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19, hospitalization, severe disease, and death. However, a minority of vaccinated individuals might become infected and experience significant morbidity. Risk factors of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough in obesity have not been elucidated. Thus, we aimed to portray the subjects with obesity developing COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough despite vaccination. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines have been highly effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, hospitalization, severe illness and death. However, a minority of vaccinated individuals may become infected and experience considerable morbidity. The risk factors for COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough in obesity have not been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to depict individuals with obesity who develop COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough despite vaccination. An online questionnaire was distributed to respondents via a snowball sampling method among subjects with obesity belonging to Italian Associations for people living with obesity aged 18 years and above. Two hundred and thirty-five respondents (44.5±14 years; BMI: 33.3±7.2 kg/m²) were included in the study. COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough was noted in 34 % of respondents. A higher prevalence of grade III obesity was detected in subjects with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough compared to subjects that did not (27.5 % vs 13.5 %; p=0.014). In addition, a significant lower prevalence of respondents that completed third dose were found in respondents with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough compared with respondents that did not develop it (33.8 % vs 72.9 %; p<0.001). After stratifying respondents with COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough according to the completed doses of vaccine, we found that, although no differences were detected in terms of clinical manifestations of COVID-19, there was a significant higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in respondents that completed third doses compared to respondents that completed first and second doses. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough was more common in subjects with grade III obesity. The presence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension could counteract the immune potentiating effects of vaccine booster against COVID-19.

Retracted: Measures of Adiposity and Risk of Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the UK Biobank Study

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/8837319.].

Clustering Accelerometer Activity Patterns from the UK Biobank Cohort

Many researchers are beginning to adopt the use of wrist-worn accelerometers to objectively measure personal activity levels. Data from these devices are often used to summarise such activity in terms of averages, variances, exceedances, and patterns within a profile. In this study, we report the development of a clustering utilising the whole activity profile. This was achieved using the robust clustering technique of k-medoids applied to an extensive data set of over 90,000 activity profiles, collected as part of the UK Biobank study. We identified nine distinct activity profiles in these data, which captured both the pattern of activity throughout a week and the intensity of the activity: "Active 9 to 5", "Active", "Morning Movers", "Get up and Active", "Live for the Weekend", "Moderates", "Leisurely 9 to 5", "Sedate" and "Inactive". These patterns are differentiated by sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and health and circadian rhythm data collected by UK Biobank. The utility of these findings are that they sit alongside existing summary measures of physical activity to provide a way to typify distinct activity patterns that may help to explain other health and morbidity outcomes, e.g., BMI or COVID-19. This research will be returned to the UK Biobank for other researchers to use.

Morbid obesity is associated with mortality and acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Mexico has one of the highest mortality rates by COVID-19 worldwide. This may be partially explained by the high prevalence of overweight/obesity found in general population; however, there is limited information in this regard. Furthermore, acute kidney injury (AKI) and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) associated to obesity in patients with COVID-19 are still topics of discussion.

AIM

To explore the association of obesity, particularly morbid obesity, with mortality and kidney outcomes in a Mexican population of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of 773 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in a tertiary-care teaching hospital in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Baseline body mass index was classified as: normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), obesity (30-39.9 kg/m2), and morbid obesity (≥40 kg/m2). AKI was diagnosed according to KDIGO clinical practice guidelines.

RESULTS

At baseline, 35% of patients had overweight, 39% obesity and 8% morbid obesity. Patients with obesity were younger, more frequently women and with hypertension than normal weight and overweight patients. Frequency of complications in the univariate analysis were not significantly associated to obesity, however in the multivariate analysis (after adjusting for baseline clinical and biochemical differences), morbid obesity was significantly associated to an increased risk of AKI [OR = 2.70 (1.01-7.26), p = 0.05], RRT [OR = 14.4 (1.46-42), p = 0.02], and mortality [OR = 3.54 (1.46-8.55), p = 0.005].

CONCLUSIONS

Almost half of the sample had obesity and morbid obesity. Morbid obesity was significantly associated to an increased risk of AKI, RRT and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Body Composition in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Before and After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Longitudinal Prospective Study in a Rural Village Struck by the Pandemic

Background:

Information on the body composition of inhabitants of remote communities during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is limited. Using a longitudinal population-based study design, we assessed the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and changes in body composition.

Methods:

Community-dwelling older adults living in a rural Ecuadorian village received body composition determinations before and 1 year after the pandemic as well as serological tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The independent association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and abnormalities in body composition at follow-up was assessed by fitting linear mixed models for longitudinal data.

Results:

Of 327 enrolled individuals, 277 (85%) received baseline and follow-up body composition determinations, and 175 (63%) of them became SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Overall, diet and physical activity deteriorated during the follow-up. Multivariate random-effects generalized least squares regression models that included the impact of time and seropositivity on follow-up body composition, showed that neither variable contributed to a worsening in body composition. Multivariate logistic regression models disclosed that the serological status at follow-up cannot be predicted by differences in body composition and other baseline covariates.

Conclusions:

Study results suggest no increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adults with abnormal body composition and no significant changes as a result of worse physical activity and dietary habits or seropositivity during the length of the study. Together with a previous study in the same population that showed decrease in hand-grip strength after SARS-CoV-2, results confirm that dynapenia (and not sarcopenia) is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults.

Understanding the Co-Epidemic of Obesity and COVID-19: Current Evidence, Comparison with Previous Epidemics, Mechanisms, and Preventive and Therapeutic Perspectives

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

A growing body of evidence suggests that obesity and increased visceral adiposity are strongly and independently linked to adverse outcomes and death due to COVID-19. This review summarizes current epidemiologic data, highlights pathogenetic mechanisms on the association between excess body weight and COVID-19, compares data from previous pandemics, discusses why COVID-19 challenges the "obesity paradox," and presents implications in prevention and treatment as well as future perspectives.

RECENT FINDINGS

Data from meta-analyses based on recent observational studies have indicated that obesity increases the risks of infection from SARS-CoV-2, severe infection and hospitalization, admission to the ICU and need of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and the risk of mortality, particularly in severe obesity. The risks of IMV and mortality associated with obesity are accentuated in younger individuals (age ≤ 50 years old). The meta-inflammation in obesity intersects with and exacerbates underlying pathogenetic mechanisms in COVID-19 through the following mechanisms and factors: (i) impaired innate and adaptive immune responses; (ii) chronic inflammation and oxidative stress; (iii) endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulability, and aberrant activation of the complement; (iv) overactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; (v) overexpression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor in the adipose tissue; (vi) associated cardiometabolic comorbidities; (vii) vitamin D deficiency; (viii) gut dysbiosis; and (ix) mechanical and psychological issues. Mechanistic and large epidemiologic studies using big data sources with omics data exploring genetic determinants of risk and disease severity as well as large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary to shed light on the pathways connecting chronic subclinical inflammation/meta-inflammation with adverse COVID-19 outcomes and establish the ideal preventive and therapeutic approaches for patients with obesity.

Nutrition in the Actual COVID-19 Pandemic. A Narrative Review

The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shocked world health authorities generating a global health crisis. The present study discusses the main finding in nutrition sciences associated with COVID-19 in the literature. We conducted a consensus critical review using primary sources, scientific articles, and secondary bibliographic indexes, databases, and web pages. The method was a narrative literature review of the available literature regarding nutrition interventions and nutrition-related factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main search engines used in the present research were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. We found how the COVID-19 lockdown promoted unhealthy dietary changes and increases in body weight of the population, showing obesity and low physical activity levels as increased risk factors of COVID-19 affection and physiopathology. In addition, hospitalized COVID-19 patients presented malnutrition and deficiencies in vitamin C, D, B12 selenium, iron, omega-3, and medium and long-chain fatty acids highlighting the potential health effect of vitamin C and D interventions. Further investigations are needed to show the complete role and implications of nutrition both in the prevention and in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Can a data driven obesity classification system identify those at risk of severe COVID-19 in the UK Biobank cohort study?

COVID-19 is a disease that has been shown to have outcomes that vary by certain socio-demographic and socio-economic groups. It is increasingly important that an understanding of these outcomes should be derived not from the consideration of one aspect, but by a more multi-faceted understanding of the individual. In this study use is made of a recent obesity driven classification of participants in the United Kingdom Biobank (UKB) to identify trends in COVID-19 outcomes. This classification is informed by a recently created obesity systems map, and the COVID-19 outcomes are: undertaking a test, a positive test, hospitalisation and mortality. It is demonstrated that the classification is able to identify meaningful differentials in these outcomes. This more holistic approach is recommended for identification and prioritisation of COVID-19 risk and possible long-COVID determination.